Gold Rush, Silver Dollar City and Dollywood

A look at how the park has changed from its first days as Gold Rush Junction to Silver Dollar City to Dollywood.

This early drawing for Gold Rush Junction shows the idea for a large swimming pool. The area is believed to be where the Country Fair section of Dollywood now exists.

A drawing from the early 1960s shows a concept for what was to become Gold Rush Junction. The area still exists in Dollywood for the most part.

Performers gather on the porch of the Ham N Beans restaurant in the 1960s. The restaurant and the church at back still exist in Dollywood today.

A steam locomotive and blacksmith sign beckon visitors to Silver Dollar City in the early 1980s.

A concept drawing and photo of early construction at what is now a staff building are seen. The structure was first a junction point area and then a fun house during the Silver Dollar City days, and is the location where a faux cave now connects the Craftsman's Valley and Country Fair sections of the park.

The Smoky Mountain River Rampage is shown in 1986 during Dollywood's first expansion after Dolly Parton took over Silver Dollar City.

The Critter Creek play area is shown under construction at Dollywood in 1987.

The Smoky Mountain River Rampage is shown during one of its first runs after opening in 1986.

An artist's rendering in 1992 shows the concept for the Showstreet area, the now-familiar first place visitors see upon entering Dollywood.

Construction on the Rockin' Roadway ride is shown in the Jukebox Junction section of Dollywood during the park's 1995 expansion.

Sevier County officials ride the Tennessee Tornado roller coaster, the highlight addition for Dollywood in 1999.

Visitors enjoying the Thunderhead wooden roller coaster designed by Great Coasters International at Dollywood in 2010. The coaster was the park's headline addition in 2004.

Dollywood visitors enjoy a ride on the recently-added Mystery Mine roller coaster in Pigeon Forge in 2007. Online readers of Web site ThemeParkInsider.com believe it’s a pretty cool ride so they rated it the year’s best new theme park attraction.

Dolly Parton is always fun, and Dollywood always seems to come up with cool new rides for the park. The park opened 2012 with a new $20 million Wild Eagle roller coaster addition. (MICHAEL PATRICK/NEWS SENTINEL)